Hilary Arksey worked in SPRU for many years, building up a reputation in research into informal care and carers needs. She led on this work in the Unit. It took her to many interesting places around the world where her experience and knowledge in this field helped to spread good practice and research collaborations. She retired from SPRU in 2010.Social Policy Research InterestsInformal careCarers, disability and employmentQualitative research methodsDr. Peter T. Knight has worked. in the Department of Educational Research at Lancaster University, UK, since 1990. He was previously the Head of the Department of History at St. Martin′s College of Higher Education, Lancaster, UK.

`This is an excellent book. It will be required reading on my methods courses′ - Nigel Fielding, University of Surrey`This book is comprehensive, easy to read, fascinating and a must for every college library where students study research methods for short reports or longer theses′ - Educational Review

• Interviews and Research in the Social SciencesTriangulation in Data CollectionWhy Interviews?Designing an Interview-Based StudyFeasibility and FlexibilityApproaches to InterviewingAchieving a Successful InterviewInterviewing in Specialised ContextsProtecting Rights and WelfareTranscribing the DataMeanings and Data AnalysisWriting the Report, Disseminating the Findings